Hull City are back in the Premier League relegation zone after they were held to a 0-0 draw by fellow strugglers West Brom at the KC Stadium this afternoon.
An uninspired stalemate with the Baggies failed to provide City the victory that has eluded them since October 4 and it could have been worse without goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
The Scotland international kept out Graham Dorrans' penalty inside the opening stages and also denied Craig Gardner from a well-struck free-kick.
City's best chance went to Stephen Quinn, whose header was pushed away by Ben Foster, but in a performance lacking potency, the Tigers were unable to find a way past their well-organised guests.
A 13th point of the season was not enough to keep the Tigers clear of the relegation zone as QPR beat Burnley at Loftus Road and, with a trip to Chelsea up next, the result felt like an opportunity missed.
Two sides in poor form had made this a big fixture at the foot of the Premier League. City, who had gone seven games without a victory, made two changes. The injured Mohamed Diame was joined by Nikica Jelavic in making way for Sone Aluko and Abel Hernandez.
West Brom made four changes to a side beaten by West Ham in midweek, most notably dropping star rookie Saido Berahino, as they hunted an end to their own slump.
The stakes were high and it was West Brom who should have taken the lead in the 10th minute. Jake Livermore's clumsy attempts to block Victor Anichebe's spin and run towards goal resulted in a penalty and presented Dorrans with a gilded chance to open the scoring. The Scot's effort was well-struck towards the bottom corner but McGregor's low save was excellent.
Surviving the early scare, the onus was on City to make the most of McGregor's heroics, but there was only a scant sense of attacking urgency from the Tigers. The home side's passing game broke down too often under the close attentions of West Brom and, as a result, Foster's goal was largely untroubled.
The best City could muster during the first half was the odd near miss. David Meyler, busy down the right flank, almost set up Hernandez in the opening minutes, while the City midfielder also had a well-struck shot blocked by Gareth McAuley. Beyond that, however, the Tigers were well contained by the visitors.
The commitment of the two sides could not be questioned but both Bruce and counterpart Alan Irvine knew a greater sense of adventure was required to find a win the two clubs so badly craved.
City's most likely source of inspiration was Aluko, playing with his tail up after rescuing a point for his side at Everton. Twice inside the opening minutes of the second period he posed questions for the Baggies to answer. Wriggling out of a tackle to tee up Hernandez to shoot wide and firing off target himself soon after, the confident Nigerian was rising above the mediocrity of the contest.
The Tigers remained far from convincing in attack but did engineer their best opening on the hour mark. Livermore's cross into the penalty area picked out Quinn to head downwards but Ben Foster was equal to the precise attempt.
Bruce was unsatisfied and introduced Andy Robertson and Robbie Brady down the left flank but was soon given a reminder of West Brom's lingering danger.
Gardner, who Bruce managed at Sunderland, fired a free-kick destined for the top corner until McGregor rescued City again with a smart save.
The Tigers plugged away for the decisive opener at the other end and came close with 15 minutes to play through Hernandez. Brady's free-kick was met by the Uruguayan but his header was arrowed wide of the target.
With Jelavic thrown on for the closing stages, City finished as the stronger side. Huddlestone drove wide and Jelavic followed suit with a header off balance, but those efforts were ultimately as unconvincing as the Tigers' performance had been. It is now eight games without a win for Bruce's men.
HULL CITY: Allan McGregor, Ahmed Elmohamady, Michael Dawson, James Chester, Liam Rosenior (Andy Robertson 61), David Meyler, Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore, Stephen Quinn (Robbie Brady 61), Sone Aluko (Nikica Jelavic 77), Abel Hernandez.Subs not used: Eldin Jakupovic, Alex Bruce, Curtis Davies, Yannick Sagbo.WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Ben Foster, Andre Wisdom, Joleon Lescott, Gareth McAuley, Sebastian Pocognoli, Youssouf Mulumbu, James Morrison, Craig Gardner (Brown Ideye 78), Graham Dorrans, Stephane Sessegnon (Silvestre Varela 66), Victor Anichebe (Saido Berahino 72).Subs: Boaz Myhill, Chris Baird, Cristian Gamboa, Craig DawsonATTENDANCE: 23,279.
HULL CITY: Allan McGregor, Ahmed Elmohamady, Michael Dawson, James Chester, Liam Rosenior (Andy Robertson 61), David Meyler, Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore, Stephen Quinn (Robbie Brady 61), Sone Aluko (Nikica Jelavic 77), Abel Hernandez.Subs not used: Eldin Jakupovic, Alex Bruce, Curtis Davies, Yannick Sagbo.WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Ben Foster, Andre Wisdom, Joleon Lescott, Gareth McAuley, Sebastian Pocognoli, Youssouf Mulumbu, James Morrison, Craig Gardner (Brown Ideye 78), Graham Dorrans, Stephane Sessegnon (Silvestre Varela 66), Victor Anichebe (Saido Berahino 72).Subs: Boaz Myhill, Chris Baird, Cristian Gamboa, Craig DawsonATTENDANCE: 23,279.
